The 34-year-old keeper died after suffering serious injuries when he was butted by four-ton cow elephant Kumara at the zoo in February.

Family, friends and colleagues of Mr Hughes will attend a memorial service and dedication of the plaque at the zoo on Wednesday, August 15.

The evening service will be led by the Rev Glyn Conway of Upton Parish Church.

During the service the zoo will formally announce plans for an annual scholarship in Mr Hughes' name for students involved in elephant research studies from the North West.

Zoo spokeswoman Pat Cade said: "The zoo is already involved with students undertaking this kind of work. We felt starting up a special scholarship in Richard's memory would be a fitting tribute." During the service there will be a tree planting ceremony near to the elephant house, followed by the unveiling of the plaque in Oakfield House.

The service will be a small, private affair held after the zoo has closed for the day," said Ms Cade.

Mr Hughes, who came from Stoke-on-Trent, had worked at the zoo for three years and lived in a flat nearby.

The tragedy happened as he was helping to release the herd from the elephant house at the start of the day.

As Kumara was being let out, the Asiatic elephant struck Mr Hughes on the head and shoulders, causing serious injuries.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics before being rushed to the Countess of Chester Hospital where he lost consciousness. He died 11 days later.

At the time of Mr Hughes' death his colleagues told how his ambition had always been to work with animals.

Mr Hughes had worked with Kumara on a daily basis throughout his three years at the zoo.

Following the tragedy there were calls for the animal to be destroyed, which the zoo decided against.

Since then Kumara, who is in her 30s, has been kept in a pen of her own in a 'protected contact' regime which means that her keepers do not have direct contact with her.

The elephant enclosure is the most popular attraction at the zoo, which recently surpassed London Zoo as the most visited in the country.

Last year the enclosure doubled in size as the zoo confirmed its status as one of the country's top animal centres for breeding, and there are further plans to increase the elephant compound.

In November, Assam was the third elephant calf born at Chester Zoo in three years.